Czech PM hits back at U.S. on human rights: paper

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, a big U.S. ally in central Europe, accused Washington of torturing prisoners after a U.S. report criticized the Czech Republic's human rights record, a newspaper said on Thursday.

Topolanek, who has supported U.S. plans to site part of a missile shield in the Czech Republic, sharply reacted to a U.S. State Department report that criticized his country over law enforcement, judicial corruption and policy towards minorities.

"To the report from the U.S. State Department I can only say that a country that allows torturing of prisoners can hardly teach me about how human rights have been violated here," the daily Mlada Fronta Dnes quoted Topolanek a saying.

The comments appeared to refer to the treatment of prisoners at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba. Human rights groups have criticized Washington for mistreating prisoners, some of whom have been held there since 2001.

In a report issued this week, the State Department said that while the Czech government generally respected the rights of its citizens, there were some problems with law enforcement and judicial corruption.

Touching a sore point, it also said there was some discrimination against minorities, especially Roma, who lacked equitable education, housing, and employment opportunities.

The sharp exchange was unusual given the close relations between the United States and the Czech government over the planned missile shield. Topolanek has backed plans to host a radar site in Czech Republic.

During Topolanek's visit in Washington last month, U.S. authorities agreed to scrap visa requirements for Czech citizens in exchange for stronger cooperation on air security.

"This was a very tough and unexpected statement from Topolanek, who a few days ago was so chummy with President Bush in the United States," wrote Mlada Fronta Dnes.

(Reporting by Jan Korselt; Editing by Richard Balmforth)